Appliances - The EnerGuide Label

Refrigerators
Electric Ranges
Dishwashers
Clothes Washers
Clothes Dryers

Energy Consumption Test Methods for Household Dishwashers

CSA Standard: C373-92

Compact (exterior width is less than 56 cm) and standard-size (exterior width is greater than or equal to 56 cm) household dishwashers are tested for their energy consumption, which includes the energy used to operate the dishwasher and the energy required to electrically heat the water used by the appliance.

Energy consumption is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The instrument that measures electrical energy use is similar to the meter used by electric power companies to measure the total electrical energy consumption of a home.

Before testing begins, the following criteria must be met:

• The dishwasher is installed according to the manufacturer's recommendations (built-in or free-standing).
• The temperature of the testing room is between 21°C and 29°C, the temperature range for a typical home kitchen.
• Water temperature and pressure, and electrical power supply to the dishwasher are at specified levels based on an average household set up.

Dishwashers with built-in water heaters are run through a complete normal wash and non-heated dry cycle with a standard load of dishes. Dishwashers that use hot water from a domestic hot water tank set at 60oC are run through a complete normal wash and non-heated dry cycle without a dish load.

A dishwasher's annual energy consumption is calculated by multiplying the energy used during a complete wash (energy to operate the dishwasher plus energy to heat the water) by 322-the average number of times a dishwasher is used in one year by the average household.
For example, if a dishwasher has a per cycle energy consumption of 2.0 kWh, then